Homeschool Talks: Ideas And Inspiration For Your Homeschool

One of the great advantages of homeschooling is the ability it gives students to follow their interests. By launching his own podcast, 17-year-old Noah Tetzner was able to pursue his passion for history—and share it with the world! Hear Noah’s story on this week’s episode of Homeschool Talks.

Writing is a gateway to opportunity. But anyone who has sat down to write the perfect novel, essay, or cover letter knows that writing is not easy. So how can you help your child cultivate this important skill? Hear the answer from homeschooling mom, novelist, and professional writing instructor Cheryl Carter on this week’s Homeschool Talks.

A great benefit of homeschooling is the ability to both incorporate your family’s cultural heritage into your children’s educational experience, as well as explore other cultures. So last month, to celebrate Black History Month, Mike Smith sat down with Joyce Burges, Founder of National Black Home Educators, to talk about honoring cultural heritage. Hear Joyce share some of the engaging ways she and her children have explored and nurtured their African-American roots—in today’s episode of Homeschool Talks!

Have you ever wondered whether it’s possible to pursue the career you love while educating your children at home? Dr. Kristina Tanner, who is both a college music professor and a homeschooling mother of five, demonstrates that it’s definitely possible. Tune in to this week’s Homeschool Talks to hear Dr. Tanner share her story as well as tips on how to balance homeschooling and an outside career.

Professional football player and homeschooling parent may not seem like related career paths. Yet Shaun Alexander, former NFL MVP, has passionately pursued both. Today, speaking from his experience as a homeschooling dad, Shaun Alexander talks about ways to get your homeschool student involved in sports and shares what life lessons he learned from his career in the NFL.

Is learning a foreign language more than checking off a box? Tune into this week’s Homeschool Talks to hear Heather Frommack, Program Manager for HSLDA’s Educational Consultants, chat with Karim Morato, a Spanish instructor with years of experience. If you have ever wondered how to encourage your child to learn a foreign language in your home, then you won’t want to miss this! 

Teaching your child to read can sometimes feel like an intimidating task. You may wonder, “Is my child ready to read?” “How can I start structuring a tailored curriculum for his or her needs?” “How do I know if my child has a learning disability?” Tune in this week’s Homeschool Talks to hear reading specialist and homeschool mom Faith Berens share her perspective on these questions and more!

Being a single parent comes with its challenges. But Kim Ransom, state house representative of Colorado’s 44th district, didn’t let that stop her from homeschooling her four children. Kim found the strength to be both a leader of her own home—and later, of her state. This week on Homeschool Talks, Kim shares how regardless of the circumstances, homeschooling is an option for anyone. But how can a single parent balance working full-time and homeschooling? Tune in to hear Kim’s answer to this question and more.

This week on Homeschool Talks we’re chatting with Dr. Crystal Ladwig—a special education teacher, professor, author, speaker, and homeschool mom—about teaching your kids to write. How can you teach writing with confidence? How can you encourage your child to become a continuously self-educating and self-editing writer? And why is writing so important in the first place? Tune in to hear Crystal answer these questions and more!

If you’ve been homeschooling more than one child for any amount of time, you’re probably well aware of the challenges that come with teaching multiple children at once. The more children you’re teaching, the harder it is to keep everything on track and make sure every child has what he or she needs. So what’s the solution? Tune in to hear HSLDA Educational Consultant Vicki Bentley share her favorite ideas and strategies for multi-level teaching.

Many parents dread the three-letter acronym: SAT. It often seems that the College Board’s college entrance test exists only to frustrate students and break parents’ bank accounts with expensive prep courses. But Jean Burk, a homeschooling mom and author of CollegePrep Genius SAT curriculum, discovered that the SAT is not an obstacle, but rather a path to affordable college education. Learn how on this week’s Homeschool Talks.

When it comes to preparing your kids for the future, often your student’s intended career path will determine what skills she should focus on developing. But what if there was a skill that transcends all careers—one that helps kids succeed at whatever they end up doing? Listen now to hear homeschool grad and entrepreneur Matt Johnson explain what he thinks is the #1 most important skill, regardless of career choice—and why homeschooling is one of the best ways for kids to develop that skill.

Are you wanting to customize your child’s curriculum to fit her needs, but aren’t sure how to do it—or even where to start? In this week’s episode of Homeschool Talks, homeschool veteran and special education expert Peggy Ployhar shares all her best tips for customizing curriculum and giving your child a truly individualized education.

If you’re homeschooling a high schooler, chances are, college is on the radar for your teen. But applying to colleges and figuring out which one is right for your teen can be a tricky process, especially for homeschoolers. Tune in as HSLDA’s high school consultants help guide you through the process, pointing out the most important things to know along the way.

These days, the pressure to be “normal”—or to have your children be seen as “normal”—seems stronger than ever. We are often afraid to embrace our children for who they are, focusing instead on who the world thinks they should be. Today we want to encourage you by sharing the story of Nathan Clarkson, a young man who has been seen as “different” for practically his whole life. If you are homeschooling a child with a learning disability or mental health struggle, or you want to know more about what it’s like to face these challenges, this is a message you need to hear.

Telling kids to go play outside is often an attempt to release their extraneous energy, or to give Mom or Dad a much-needed rest. But did you know that playing outside also has significant mental and physical benefits for children? Today, Diane Kummer is chatting with a pediatric occupational therapist who says that unstructured outdoor play time isn’t just an outlet for childhood dynamism—it’s actually vital for a child’s physical and mental development.

It’s easy to talk about the importance of serving your community, but most of the time it takes more than just words to make a difference. Today we want to introduce you to someone who talks the talk and walks the walk. Not only does she homeschool all five of her children—two of whom have special needs—but she also serves as a state senator and regularly volunteers in various service projects in her community. She’s truly a remarkable woman, and we hope you’ll find her story as inspiring and encouraging as we have. That's today on Homeschool Talks.

We all love a good story. But have you ever wondered why that is? What is it that makes stories so compelling? Why do we learn so well through them? And how can you, as a homeschooling parent, harness the power of stories to help your children learn and develop? Hear the answer to these questions and more from musician, author, and homeschooling dad Andrew Peterson—this week on Homeschool Talks.

In today’s social media–saturated world, there’s little doubt that digital technology is becoming a bigger and bigger part of everyday life. With that technology comes powerful tools as well as potential dangers. So how can you help your children understand these tools and use them well while avoiding the pitfalls? How can you raise digitally responsible young adults? Hear tips and ideas from homeschooling veteran and digital tech expert Leah Nieman on this week’s episode of Homeschool Talks!

If you’re a homeschooling parent, chances are the phrase “end-of-year testing” doesn’t exactly give you warm and fuzzy feelings. But many states require some type of standardized testing, and it’s always good to be tracking your child’s progress so you can know the best ways to help him improve. So what do you need to know about end-of-year testing? Hear the answer on the newest episode of Homeschool Talks with HSLDA Special Needs Consultant Krisa Winn.